You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension of A/V. This is the middle ground between mediocre and too-good-to-be-true, between something called "reggae" and the sound angels emit. You are traveling deep into the realm of rad tuneage. Next stop, Now Hear This!

Straight outta Oakl&

Zachary James Watkins and Marshall Tramell aka Black Spirituals bring "black resonance" to Spirit Abuse (1103 Fourth Street NW) tonight. Our interview "Postmodern Black Spirituals" yielded more insight than we could fit in print. For instance, the project's name originates from Watkins finding a dusty cassette in a closet; the recording within was a 1970s lecture by activist, scholar and singer Bernice Johnson Reagon on the roots music of black slaves in America. Black Spirituals tour in support of their forthcoming SIGE Records cassette Of Deconstruction. Five bucks gets you in to the most intriguing concert of the week. The sympathetic vibrations amp up at 9pm, and Bigawatt and Mesa Ritual open the show. I'll see you there.

On Sunday night at Sunshine Theater (120 Central SW), Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche—featuring former members of Dio, Ozzy and AC/DC—brings a mishmash of nostalgia and brand-new heavy. Read Moss' Show Up! column to learn more about the drama surrounding Tate's physical and verbal abuse of his bandmates and consequent firing, the ensuing legal battle and future of Queensrÿche. According to our in-house metal expert, this show will not be a "pathetic and flaccid mockery of itself." Irish rock outfit The Voodoos open this all-ages concert, and presale tickets are $25.

Ex-Albuquerqueño Sam Miller—who's actually from the Northwest—returns from Seattle for his first solo release, You Need To Hear It, which was ably mastered by Sean McCullough of Sad Baby Wolf. When last we saw him, Miller was fronting the pleasantly uncategorizable Jenny Invert, a band that spun off from the somewhat categorizable (ersatz-Americana?) Grand Canyon. If this sounds somewhat equivocal, it’s not intentional.

While listening, I jotted down some notes: pseudo-Slavic mariachi country and Western piano party-pop wrapped in a game show-theme with Sam as dashing host—“Come on down!”—but deadly earnest. It’s a shame this description comes off so damn messy. Although his sound comes from incredibly disparate sources, Miller makes it blend like a chef adding just the right dash of thickener to a sauce that could otherwise be a lumpy mess. Rather than the pedestrian cornstarch an amateur might use, Miller employs a grand beurre manié, which is really just butter and flour but oh so elegant. Much of this album shouldn’t mesh, but it does. You Need To Hear It is a heroic dish anchored by compelling piano work, handsome voice and clever—never stupid—songwriting with sweeping but tasteful Queen-like production. Hear it at Burt's Tiki Lounge (313 Gold SW) tomorrow night at 9pm. $5 gets you in. Burt's Tiki Lounge • Sat Jun 28 • 9pm • $5 • 21+ • View on Alibi calendar

Head on over to Burt’s Tiki Lounge (313 Gold SW) tomorrow night at 9pm for a wide-ranging gig showcasing a number of touring bands from Cali along with local stalwarts. Headliner Modern Pantheist, a psychedelic outfit, hails from LA. The trio features singer/songwriter Chris Anderson, drummer Dave Ferrara and multi-instrumentalist Chris Sandler. Their sound has been described as mind-bending and trippy, but you should also expect some pop sensibility and sentimental narrative thrown into the mix.

On the other hand, Cuddle Formation is a bit more esoteric with a spacious sound that has its basis in electronic vocals and choral experimentation. Contrariwise, Emily Reo composes and performs music that takes a more traditional approach to instrumentation and vocalization, although her recent Auto-Tuned version of Fleetwood Mac classic “Dreams” is notable for its syncopated percussion track and ennui-generating, plaintive vocal style. With local dream-makers Ballets and Holy Glories starting things off, this show promises to make the generally dreamy summer nights in these parts specifically space-oriented. There is no cover for this concert, except the vault of stars above. Burt's Tiki Lounge • Wed Jun 11 • 9pm • FREE • 21+ • View on Alibi calendar

Alibi goes un-dehrr zee sea at a tiki lounge near you

In less than two weeks your friendly partiers at Weekly Alibi will stage the smoothest dance in Albuquerque history. You’re invited to help us bid farewell to summertime and get pumped up for the Halloween season by coming Downtown on Saturday, September 12th. There you will find sailors, seamen, pirates, fishermen, octopi, ocean monsters, Loggins, Hall and Oates, all competing for excellent prizes in a costume contest. Grog specials and free pretzels will abound as we bask in soft rock, synth pop and ocean tracks played by DJs from The Universal. The party starts at 10 p.m. and is free. Come do the swim with us!